WASHINGTON (TNND) — Nearly a week has passed since a tragic midair collision between an American Airlines flight and an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport, resulting in no survivors. This incident marks the deadliest U.S. air disaster since 2001. Memorials have been erected along the Potomac River as investigations continue into the cause of the crash.

Authorities confirmed that only one air traffic controller was on duty that night, handling the responsibilities typically managed by two. While this fact does not definitively explain the crash, it highlights ongoing concerns about air traffic controller staffing levels nationwide.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues to face staffing challenges. According to a 2023 report from the FAA, 20 out of 26 critical facilities are staffed below the agency's 85-percent threshold.

The President of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association recently stated on CNN that the country is supposed to have at least 14,335 air traffic controllers, but currently, there are only 10,800, indicating a staffing shortfall of nearly 25%.

Major cities experiencing significant staffing shortages include Washington, D.C., where Reagan National Airport is about 63% staffed, Philadelphia at 55%, and Orlando with the highest shortage at 54%, according to the FAA report.

The air traffic controller shortage has been a concern for over a decade. In fiscal year 2015, the FAA fell 24% below its staffing goals, according to a report from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

Becoming an air traffic controller is a demanding career with a required retirement age of 56. Applicants must be U.S. citizens under the age of 31, pass medical and security checks, and meet education and work experience requirements. Less than 10% of applicants are accepted into the FAA's training program, which includes months of rigorous training at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, followed by 2-3 years of additional training across the country.

The ongoing investigation into the recent crash continues to scrutinize the impact of staffing shortages on air traffic safety.